Welcome To Washington Gas

For more than 165 years Washington Gas has been distributing natural gas to customers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. We bring natural gas to your home or business safely and reliably.

Questions and Answers

What is the Customer Choice Program?

As a result of energy deregulation and Washington Gas' advocacy for a competitive market, customers have the choice to buy their gas from Washington Gas - the regulated utility - or from energy supply companies selling natural gas in the competitive marketplace.

Washington Gas is required to pass directly through to customers its costs for the natural gas that they use. Energy supply companies, also referred to as retail or competitive energy suppliers, compete against one another for business, and some offer price incentives that may result in cost savings to customers.

Whether customers choose to purchase gas from Washington Gas or a retail energy supply company, Washington Gas, as the local natural gas utility, will continue to deliver the natural gas to customers' homes and businesses, read meters and respond around-the-clock to any natural gas emergency.

Who can participate in the Customer Choice Program?

All customers in the District of Columbia are eligible to participate.

When can I sign up for the program?

Enrollment is open every month throughout the year.

How do I participate?

If you are considering participating in customer choice, you may want to contact several suppliers, or, in some instances, suppliers already may have contacted you with information -- using advertising, direct mail, personal contact, or other customary means to promote their services.

As with other important consumer purchases, make sure to shop around and compare prices and services. Talk with energy suppliers about their qualifications, price offers and fees, contract requirements, and billing procedures.

If you decide to buy your natural gas from one of the suppliers listed below, you will be asked to sign a consent form authorizing the supplier to enroll you in the Customer Choice Program.

Do retail energy supply companies and their sales representatives work for Washington Gas, the utility?

No. Retail energy suppliers are in business to compete against one another to sell you natural gas and perhaps other energy products and services. Washington Gas is the regulated utility and is responsible for the following:

1. Providing the gas supply or commodity to any customer who does not choose to buy from a retail energy supplier.

2. Providing safe and reliable delivery of natural gas to all of its customers and responding around-the-clock to any natural gas emergency.

3. Reading customers' meters and providing billing services.

What will the energy supply company charge me?

Remember that energy supply companies are competing against one another for your business so it is likely that their prices and services will differ. Be sure to ask which charges are included in the price that a supplier quotes and ask about any additional fees or charges not included.

How do I compare prices?

When you obtain suppliers' prices, ask whether the price includes the balancing charge, a fee to help ensure adequate supply. Washington Gas's historical price already includes this charge, and you will want to make accurate comparisons.

As a consumer, how am I protected?

Consumer protection standards are in place. The natural gas is delivered to you through the company's system of pipes, and, in the unlikely event that an energy supply company exits the program, Washington Gas makes sure you receive the gas you need.

ABOUT WASHINGTON GAS

Washington Gas Light Company is a regulated natural gas utility providing safe, reliable natural gas service to more than 1.1 million customers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. A subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc., the company has been providing energy to residential, commercial and industrial customers for more than 165 years.

CONTACT US

If you have an emergency involving natural gas, leave the area and call 911. For all other inquiries, please contact Washington Gas at (703) 750-1000 or through the appropriate channels in the link below.